GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[SDS]

He said he was trying to get out of the way. Well played. Isn't hugging the post Goaltending 101?

 

The shot was deflected, so I don't know why he would be hugging the post. In fact, even hugging the post is the wrong phrase because who does that on a shot from the point? He didn't slide to the post because that isn't where the shot was going. 0.1 seconds later it was in the net.

[deluca67]

What are you talking about?

He may be referring to the Sabres losing more of these type of games than they win in 'Miller Time'. I am far from being a Miller basher. The reality is that front office goes about its business as if Miller is a elite goalie which is why they think they can get by with the forwards they have. They think Miller can steal enough games/points to get them into eighth place. Miller is a really good goalie. He's just not elite.

[ThePebble19]

Yea cuz a superstar goalie sits in the blue when a player is sliding in on him not even looking to stop or when a shot of the board bounces out right to a play for a instant one timer.

 

Miller played fine, he did see a lot of shots but still looked good. a bad call and a bad bounce was the reason for the loss.

 

Good teams recover from fluke goals and regain the momentum they had prior. They also come out playing with a fire in the 3rd Period of a 1-1 game with a division rival, in your home/season opener.

 

The Sabres sat back on their heels and did nothing for the last 30 minutes of regulation. By the time they started taking chances 2 minutes into OT, it was too late.

 

The fluke goal and a bad call were unfortunate, but to say that they are the reason we lost is almost laughable.

[LabattBlue]

Game thoughts...

 

- The 2nd and 3rd periods were BORING beyond belief. For the season opener, the excitement factor was sub-par.

 

- Meyers surprised me. He had a couple of nice poke checks in the 1st, handled the puck well and got his nose dirty a couple of times.

 

- I thought Hecht, Pominville and Stafford were the best forwards. I liked Stafford's hustle.

 

- Top line was unimpressive except for the power play goal. Very lackluster.

 

- Butler got beat to the puck on the winning goal, but I liked his play a lot.

 

- Montador is a better skater than I thought.

 

- Disappointing ending to a game the Sabres should have won.

[deluca67]

He said he was trying to get out of the way. Well played. Isn't hugging the post Goaltending 101?

He did a good job then. He was successful in getting out of the way of the puck as it was batted into the net. :thumbdown:

[deluca67]

Good teams recover from fluke goals and regain the momentum they had prior. They also come out playing with a fire in the 3rd Period of a 1-1 game with a division rival, in your home/season opener.

 

The Sabres sat back on their heels and did nothing for the last 30 minutes of regulation. By the time they started taking chances 2 minutes into OT, it was too late.

 

The fluke goal and a bad call were unfortunate, but to say that they are the reason we lost is almost laughable.

What bad call?

[FearTheReaper]

The shot was deflected, so I don't know why he would be hugging the post. In fact, even hugging the post is the wrong phrase because who does that on a shot from the point? He didn't slide to the post because that isn't where the shot was going. 0.1 seconds later it was in the net.

 

The shot definetly took a nasty deflection off a leg,who knew were it would end up. Some nights those pucks catch the netting,other nights they end games. It was the latter for us tonight. Its really only one point for now,but he kills a supposed "good vibe" this team had. We cant afford to lose to the desert dogs on thursday though.

[SwampD]

He may be referring to the Sabres losing more of these type of games than they win in 'Miller Time'. I am far from being a Miller basher. The reality is that front office goes about its business as if Miller is a elite goalie which is why they think they can get by with the forwards they have. They think Miller can steal enough games/points to get them into eighth place. Miller is a really good goalie. He's just not elite.

He let 1 goal in in regulation. Yeah, he sucks.

 

Our problem is big goals at big times.

[FearTheReaper]

Our problem is big goals at big times.

 

Uhh,should i say a name?

 

See,below.

[SwampD]

Uhh,should i say a name?

Please don't.

[tulax]

After this game someone has to print a "Missing" ad on milk cartons looking for Thomas Vanek. He was a total non-factor tonight. Give some credit to Montreal getting sticks and bodies in the shooting lanes and limiting the rebounds. It's only one game and I'm sure the next game against Phoenix will be a confidence booster.

[ThePebble19]

What bad call?

 

His original post said "a bad call and a fluke goal lost us the game." I assume he is talking about the decision to not call goaltender interference on the Moen goal.

[CallawaySabres]

Myers - WOW!!

Kennedy - great showing

PK - Stellar

 

Vanek - Stars should never vanish for full games - I mean, he may well have missed the game and I would not have known. He better show up this year EVERY GAME

PP - holy can't even set up a decent shot

offense - hello first first period - goodbye rest of game

 

translation - they will be good enough to make playoffs this year. First line REALLY needs to change. More offense which I believe will show up and this could be a solid team. Make the playoffs this year (maybe win a round) and next year should be the real jump.

[...]

The first period was a good period for the Sabres. After that, the game became a completely defense-dominated game. Which means both teams D were firing on all cylinders. This is something new for the Sabres, so for this game I can excuse the confusion on the bench. I think based on how the last two periods and the OT went, it was either teams' game to lose.

 

Cheers:

 

Myers was great.

 

Kennedy was the obvious stand-out offensive player for the Sabres.

 

I liked Butler's mean streak - neato. I thought I saw streaks of that last season, so now here it is.

 

Kaleta actually was somewhat impressive for Kaleta - he made some decent offensive decisions.

 

I was alright with Hecht's effort.

 

 

 

Jeers:

 

Please, please, please take JJ Pommers off the PP. Please. He's awful there.

 

Vanek? What Vanek?

 

Roy - continues his role as Max Mk. II.

 

Stafford. Okay, if you're not ready to play, get off the ice.

 

 

 

What happened to the PP I saw during preseason? I'm on the fence about Sekera. At some points I liked his game, at other points I was shaking my head. Right now I think he, if anyone, needs to go down if Tallinder MUST stay and Ludman comes back.

[Stoner]

The shot was deflected, so I don't know why he would be hugging the post. In fact, even hugging the post is the wrong phrase because who does that on a shot from the point? He didn't slide to the post because that isn't where the shot was going. 0.1 seconds later it was in the net.

 

He said after the game he was trying to get out of the way of the puck as it caromed off the back boards. I'm just the messenger.

[Spudz]

Vanek :thumbdown:

Myers :wub:

Kennedy :thumbsup:

Montador and Pominville on PP :thumbdown:

Hecht not being a center (fought along the boards like he used to) :thumbsup:

Effort :sick:

[Stoner]

What bad call?

 

Come on, it wouldn't be Buffalo sports if there wasn't some conspiracy! I'm usually alone out on the grassy knoll on these things, so I was heartened to hear that Roby also thought the correct call was made.

[FearTheReaper]

Please don't.

 

Whats the harm in naming a player that took an entire teams heart with him?

[deluca67]

Come on, it wouldn't be Buffalo sports if there wasn't some conspiracy! I'm usually alone out on the grassy knoll on these things, so I was heartened to hear that Roby also thought the correct call was made.

I hate the play where a d-man pushes a forward towards the goalie. It should be worth 2 goals. Am I wrong to think Montador should have cut him off? Sekera was behind him. What was Montador doing?

[Stoner]

Re: Vanek. I seem to be one of the few who have seen this storm coming for a while. I have a feeling things are going to come to a head this season. He made a comment on his web site over the summer that appeared to me to be a jab at Ruff. And when told during the preseason that Ruff had said he would be giving Vanek "elite minutes" this season, Vanek said, "That's great... if it happens." Paraphrase. Vanek got his typical 17 minutes tonight. And yeah he stunk.

 

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Vanek try and play his way off this team.

[deluca67]

Re: Vanek. I seem to be one of the few who have seen this storm coming for a while. I have a feeling things are going to come to a head this season. He made a comment on his web site over the summer that appeared to me to be a jab at Ruff. And when told during the preseason that Ruff had said he would be giving Vanek "elite minutes" this season, Vanek said, "That's great... if it happens." Paraphrase. Vanek got his typical 17 minutes tonight. And yeah he stunk.

 

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Vanek try and play his way off this team.

I will defend Vanek here. Who is he playing with out there? Roy? Roy is a decent second line center. Connolly? Connolly's greatest production comes when he is out of the lineup. Being the NHL's all-time leader in imaginary points. Vanek is a "franchise" goal scorer and they don't bother investing in a setup-man for him?

[SwampD]

Come on, it wouldn't be Buffalo sports if there wasn't some conspiracy! I'm usually alone out on the grassy knoll on these things, so I was heartened to hear that Roby also thought the correct call was made.

I'm as big of a conspiracy theorist as anyone, and that was a goal. As soon as I saw Ruff wave off the Refs with the paper in his hand I knew it was over. Why would Roy stop begging for penalties if his coach doesn't.

[novascotiaguy]

Re: Vanek. I seem to be one of the few who have seen this storm coming for a while. I have a feeling things are going to come to a head this season. He made a comment on his web site over the summer that appeared to me to be a jab at Ruff. And when told during the preseason that Ruff had said he would be giving Vanek "elite minutes" this season, Vanek said, "That's great... if it happens." Paraphrase. Vanek got his typical 17 minutes tonight. And yeah he stunk.

 

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Vanek try and play his way off this team.

 

 

You really think Vanek will do that c mon no way you guys got to stop trying to come up with stuff to talk about you look in to stuff to much. Sabres will be ok d will be better this year with Butler getting better and Myers being here. And they will be around 8 to 5 in the east just be lucky we got a team that can win some games there is alot worse teams out there. AND ITS ONLY THE FIRST GAME

[notwoz]

Re: Vanek. I seem to be one of the few who have seen this storm coming for a while. I have a feeling things are going to come to a head this season. He made a comment on his web site over the summer that appeared to me to be a jab at Ruff. And when told during the preseason that Ruff had said he would be giving Vanek "elite minutes" this season, Vanek said, "That's great... if it happens." Paraphrase. Vanek got his typical 17 minutes tonight. And yeah he stunk.

 

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Vanek try and play his way off this team.

That would be fine by me. He's shown absolutely nothing during his time in Buffalo.

[SwampD]

I will defend Vanek here. Who is he playing with out there? Roy? Roy is a decent second line center. Connolly? Connolly's greatest production comes when he is out of the lineup. Being the NHL's all-time leader in imaginary points. Vanek is a "franchise" goal scorer and they don't bother investing in a setup-man for him?

That's just funny.